Great success for the Eatruria conference: food as a driver of territorial development.

Civitavecchia, 19/10/2024 – As part of the Percorsi del Gusto event organized by the Municipality of Civitavecchia, Eatruria successfully held a conference at the My Lord restaurant, focusing on the role of gastronomic tradition as a strategic element for territorial development.

The initiative, warmly received by participants, highlighted the importance of enhancing local excellence through innovation and marketing, emphasizing the potential of culinary heritage to attract tourists and support the local economy.

The conference was opened by Sergio Aversa, spokesperson for Eatruria, who illustrated how the region’s gastronomic traditions generate significant interest among visitors, stressing the need for constructive policies to promote these assets. Aversa also underscored the importance of leveraging new technologies and modern marketing techniques to showcase the unique value of local culinary culture to the world.

Moderated by Stefano De Paolis of Azienda Gattopuzzo, one of the most active producers involved in the initiative, the conference featured notable representatives from the agricultural and institutional sectors.

Marco Federici and Glauco Zannoli, Director and President of the Pantano Cooperative in Tarquinia respectively, discussed the importance of local grains, their nutritional value, and the economic and social impact of transforming them into products such as Pasta Etruschella, a specialty highly appreciated by tourists visiting Eatruria’s sales points.

Francesco Sposetti, the Mayor of Tarquinia, highlighted the importance of territorial synergies, showcasing the potential of Tarquinia’s products and services, especially for the many visitors passing through Civitavecchia. Hon. Emanuela Mari, President of the European and International Affairs Commission, emphasized the favorable historic moment, with Europe allocating resources for local development.

Representatives from Civitavecchia’s institutions, including councilors Enzo D’Antò (Commerce), Stefania Tinti (Culture), Piero Alessi (Tourism), and councilor Giancarlo Cangani, outlined ongoing initiatives to enhance the region and foster cooperation with neighboring municipalities.

Luigi Landi, Mayor of Allumiere, expressed hope for the continuation of similar events, praising the Pantano Cooperative experience as a virtuous model for the agricultural sector.

Several other interventions enriched the discussion, including those by Maria Cristina Ciaffi, President of Pro Loco Civitavecchia; Gabriella Sarracco, President of the CariCiv Foundation; and Damiria Delmirani, Vice President of Civitavecchia’s Agrarian University, who presented the Olio di Traiano project, a local excellence.

Through a virtual tour of the olive groves of Mandrione, participants experienced the immersive tourism offering developed by the local digital marketing agency Creative Web Studio as part of the Eatruria project.

Among the attendees were representatives of civil society, educational institutions, and local political figures, such as Alessandro Ansidoni (Slow Food), Giorgio Corati (Slow Food), Paolo Aloisi (Lazio Region), Alessio Gatti (CSP board member), Paola Fratarcangeli (Municipality of Santa Marinella), and Lucia Gaglione (Santa Marinella PD).

The conference concluded with a final address by Hon. Alessandro Battilocchio, who stressed the importance of dialogue between civil society and administrations to promote integrated territorial development. Battilocchio also highlighted the need to strengthen local networks to create job opportunities and improve the quality of life for communities.

The event ended with an exquisite tasting session curated by Chef Claudio Scipione of the My Lord restaurant, featuring dishes such as Pasta Etruschella with the “Pomodoretto appeso dell’Etruria Meridionale” and a reimagined Zuppa di Pesce Civitavecchiese enriched with pasta. The dishes were elevated with Olio di Traiano and paired with wines from the Enotria agricultural company of Tommaso Vernace in Allumiere.

The tasting session concluded with delicious desserts prepared by Agrichef Serena Anniballi, under the coordination and supervision of Eatruria’s Quality Manager, Lanfranco Valletti.

This initiative marks a starting point for future collaborations between institutions, producers, and tourism operators, aiming to create a strong and shared gastronomic identity that can become a symbol of the region and attract more visitors.